Spark-plug.



W. HOUSMMM SPARK PLUG APPLICATINL FILED "(M/ 2G, IQH.

- Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

WILSON HOUSMAN, OF ELKHABT, INDIANA.

SPARK-PLUG.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILSON HoUsMAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Elk- T hart, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark-Plugs, of which the following is a s eclfication.

This invention re ates to spark plugs for internal combustion engines, the primary object of the invention being to provide a plug embodying means for relatively adjusting and centering the central and outer electrodes, to compensatefor Wear due to 'the sparkingaction and for any variation from the normal in the position of the points due to the outer electrode being bent or otherwise moved out of position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spark plug in which a movable tip for the outer electrode is provided to "increase the area thereof and to keep the same free from carbon or other deposits.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference bein had to the accompanying drawing, in w ich:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a spark plug embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

F ig. 3 is a sectional perspective View of the movable cap or sleeve upon the outer electrode.

The spark plug 1 may be of any ordinary general construction, and is shown in the present instance as comprising a core 2 of porcelain or other suitable insulating material. \Vithin this core is arran d a central electrode 3, projecting be on the inner end of the core in the form 0 a spark point 4, and projecting beyond the outer end of the core in the form of a binding post 5. The electrode 3 is secured in position by means of a retaining nut 6, and a clamping nut 7 is provided upon the binding post for clamping thereto a wire conductor in the usual way.

The core 2 is inclosed within an outer shell or casing composed of sections 8 and 9, said sections having a threaded connection 10 for detachably cou ling them together, and the section 9 eim provided with the usual externally threaded portion 11 to fit within the spark plug opening in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

Application filed November 26, 1917. Serial No. 204,048.

the engine cylinder, and also with an angular portion 12 for the application of a. wrench or like tool whereby the spark plug ma be screwed into and out of position.

arried by the shell section 9 is an outer electrode 13 of substantially U-form, one of the parallel arms of which is fixed to said shell section and the other parallel arm of which forms a spark point 14 for cooperation with the ark point 4 of the electrode 3. These spar? points 4 and 14 are spaced in the usual way to produce a. spark gap 15. The core and shell sections are respectively formed with shoulders 16 and 17 between which are clamped packing rings or gaskets 18, which form tight joints and adapt the core to be clamped rigidly to the outer shell in a, firm and secure manner. The spark plug thus far described may be of a type of construction in common use.

It is well known that as a result of the sparking action wear occurs upon both spark of the spark point 0 the outer electrode is.

reduced and through this reduction of surface and coatin of the spark oint with carbon or other eposits t'he spar ing action of the plug is impaired or such action entirely prevented.

In order to overcome this objection, I provide means whereby the electrodes may be relatively adjusted to compensate for pitting or other wear, as well as for variations in their position due to other causes, and I further rovide means for increasing the area of t e outer electrode and keeping the same clean and free from carbon. For the purpose of enabling the electrodes to be relatively adjusted, I provide the core 2 with an eccentric surface 19, and the shell section 8 with an eccentric bore 20, as best shown in Fig. 2, such surfaces hein eccentric to the bore of the core through which the electrode 3 extends. By this means it is evident that by turning or rotating the core in one direction or the other within the sleeve and then fixing it to the sleeve against relative movement, the electrode 3 will be adjusted eccentrically with relation to the point 14 of the electrode 13, so that different portions of the surface of the point 4 may be presented at intervals to the surface of the point 14 as required in service, enabling new surfaces of the points 4 and 14 to be brought into operative position after the surface in use has become pitted or-otherwise worn.

end of the point 14 and forms the sparking surface of the electrode 13, which is spaced from the point 4 to produce the requisite size of spark gap 15. The cap 21 is made of conducting n'iaterial and increases the sparking area of the electrode 13, and as this cap is free to'slide back and forth upon the point 14, toward, and from the point 14, a carbon removing or cleansing action is thereby set u'p. It will be understood that when the engine piston is on its exhaust or compression stroke the pressure of the gases on the cap or sleeve 21 .will force it upwardly on the point 14 toward the point 4,

while upon the suction or firing stroke of the piston the cap21 will drop or move in the opposite direction bygravity and the suction force of the piston. In this manner the cap will be reciprocated, thus keeping all surfaces clean and free from carbon or other deposits.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A spark plugincluding a shell or cascoplel of this patent may be'- obtained for ing having a bore eccentric to the axis thereof, a core of cylindrical form in cross sect. n rotatably mounted in said bore, astationary electrode carried by the shell or casing, a central electrode carried by the core, said central electrode being arranged axially of the core and said electrodes being in axial alinement with each other and t all times a fixed distance apart, the construction being such that by rotary adjustments of the core in the eccentric bore the central electrode may be adjusted to bring difi'erent ortions of the electrodes into coacting reation. I

2. A spark plug including a shell or casing, a core mounted therein, a stationary electrode carried by the shellor casin and having a portion disposed longitudina ly in the plane of the axis of the core, a central electrode carried bythe core in axial alinement with said portion of the stationary electrode, and a cap loosely mounted upon said portion of the stationary electrode'for reciprocating motionthereon toward and from the central electrode and adapted :to engage the contact end of the latter.

3. A spark plugincluding the'usual upper and lower spaced electrodes, a cylindrical member closed at one end loosely engaged over the said lower electrode and-adapted to slide thereon, the said cap being a conductor and adapted when moved upwardly to have its closed end engagewith theendof the a up er electrode.

11 testimony whereofI affix m signature.

' WILSON HOlllSMAN,

ave cent: eacli, by addressing the "Commissioner 02 Patents, wllhlllflfll, D. 0." I 

